Electro-mechanical system for motivating exercise activity

ABSTRACT

An exercise motivating system which rewards the exerciser with allowable TV viewing time includes a component interactive with an exercise modality to generate a responsive signal proportionate to the amount of exertion or work done. The responsive signal is received by an accumulating component which converts it to a stored control medium. A control module is interposed between a source of household electrical current and an electrical appliance such as a TV set. The control module physically couples with the accumulating component and processes the stored control medium in a manner to operate the appliance for a time duration proportionate to the amount of exercise effort recorded by the accumulating component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention concerns a system for motivating individuals to perceivethe advantages of exercise activity, and more particularly relates toapparatus which requires that exercise activity be performed as aprerequisite for engagement in sedentary activity.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is well established that physical fitness, developed by way of aregular regimen of exercise activity is beneficial from a healthstandpoint. Unfortunately, children and young adults often avoidexercise for various reasons, and instead spend long hours in sedentaryactivity such as watching TV, playing video games, or engaging in othercomputer-related activities. Such electrically operated devices are ofcommonplace occurrence and readily accessible in most households.

Several types of exercise equipment are available for household use.Such equipment typically requires repetitive movement, and includesstationary bicycles, treadmills and rowing machines. Many individualspurchase such exercise devices, then do not use them on a regular basisbecause of a lack of suitable motivation.

Various devices and systems have been proposed for motivating childrenand adolescents to utilize home exercise equipment. The basic principleof such systems generally is to cause the individual to earn by way ofexercise the privilege of participating in sedentary activities such aswatching TV. Most such systems reward the exerciser by way of switchingdevices which activate a TV set, computer or other electrical appliance.

An early approach to the coupling of exercise activity with theoperation of an electrical appliance is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,298,893 to Hohnes in which an exercise bicycle is caused to generatesufficient electricity to power a television set. Although a simpleconcept, it is unlikely that a generator driven by a bicycle can producesufficient electrical power at a sustained uniform rate to operate a TVset.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,746 to Delman discloses a system wherein a bicycle,when operated at a predetermined intensity level, enables the exercisingperson to watch a TV set. This system requires that the TV set bedirectly in front of the bicycle for viewing, and requires an electricalconnection between the bicycle and the TV set. Because Delman's systemoperates only during exercise, it does not permit use of a computer,video game or any other appliance that requires use of the hands orother specialized physical or mental involvement.

Other systems which reward the exerciser by permitting TV viewing orvideo game operation during exercise at a predetermined intensity aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,542,897; 5,591,104; 4,976,435; 4,512,567;4,637,605; 5,001,632; 5,362,069; and 5,839,990.

Many of the aforesaid prior systems involve complex, expensivecomponents. It should also be noted that popular exercise routines onstationary exercise bicycles involve varied intensity levels whichsimulate an outdoor bicycle path or road having occasional hills. Suchvaried intensity routine not only adds interest to the exerciseactivity, but has beneficial physiological consequences. None of theprior systems provide credit to the exerciser for periods of lowintensity exertion, or for the total amount of exertion, as may best beexpressed by calories burned or cumulative effort as related to totalheart rate activity.

Prior systems cannot provide a cumulative benefit for two or moreexercise sessions. Such prior systems, by requiring that the reward forthe exertion be limited to the watching of TV during exercising and inclose proximity to the bicycle, may dampen a child's enthusiasm for theactivity. Also, prior systems are dependent upon the use of indoorexercise devices such as bicycles and treadmills that have rotativelymoving components which can be coupled to an electrical generator thatproduces an electrical current proportional to the rate of rotation ofsaid moving component. The prior systems cannot accommodate outdoorexercise activities such as running, biking, rowing, skating, skiing,etc.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide anexercise motivating system that rewards an exercising person bypermitting operation of an electrical appliance for a duration of timeproportionate to accumulated measured exertion in exercise activity.

It is another object of this invention to provide an exercise motivatingsystem as in the foregoing object wherein said electrical appliance maybe remote from the site of said exercise activity.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an exercisemotivating system of the aforesaid nature wherein said electricalappliance may be operated at a time subsequent to said exerciseactivity.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an exercisemotivating system of the aforesaid nature having simple componentsamenable to low cost manufacture and installation.

These objects and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above and other beneficial objects and advantages are accomplishedin accordance with the present invention by an exercise motivatingsystem interactive with an appliance which operates on householdelectrical current, said system comprising:

-   -   1. generator means responsive to an exercise activity to        generate a signal in the form of electrical current or digital        information proportionate to the cumulative amount of exertion        applied in said activity,    -   2. accumulator means for receiving said generated signal and        converting it to a stored control medium, and    -   3. a control module interposed between a source of household        electrical current and an appliance operable on said current and        adapted to physically couple with said accumulator means, said        control module adapted to receive and process said stored        control medium in a manner to operate said appliance for a time        duration proportionate to said stored control medium.

In one embodiment, the exercise activity involves an indoor exerciseapparatus having a component that undergoes rotary motion, such as thewheel of a bicycle or the trunnion shafts of a treadmill. In suchembodiment, said generator means as an electrical generator, saidresponsive signal is an electrical current, said accumulator means is arechargeable storage cell battery, and said stored control medium is anelectrical charge. Alternatively, the generator means may be anelectronic component of an exercise apparatus, and adapted to produce anoutput signal in the form of a heart rate, or accumulated caloriesburned based upon resistance level, rate of motion, and duration ofexercise. An example of such apparatus is the Lifecycle stationarybicycle, manufactured by Life Fitness, Inc. of Irvine, Calif. Stillanother example of generator means is a monitor of the type generallyused in running or other exercise modalities for producing a digitalread out of heart rate. In such instances, the generated signal isdigital information, and the accumulator means is a conventional tape,disc or computer chip device for recording and storing digital signalsin the form of instructional information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification and in which similar numerals of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of equipment componentsassociated with an exercise apparatus employed in the exercisemotivating system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of equipment componentsassociated with an electrical appliance involved in the exercisemotivating system of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of components of theexercise motivating system of the present invention is shown comprisedof a rotating member such as wheel 10 of a conventional stationaryexercise bicycle rotatable upon axle 20 and mechanically connected withthe drive wheel 11 of generator 12.

Accumulator means, in the form of rechargeable storage battery 13 isjoined by way of electrical conductor wire 14 and detachment clamp 15 togenerator 12. Once detached from said generator, battery 13 orcomparable digital information storage device is adapted to connect viaclamp 15 to the input connector 16 of control module 17 which iselectrically interposed between a household electrical wall receptacle18 and an appliance such as TV set 19 which is operated on electricalcurrent supplied from receptacle 18.

Drive wheel 11 may have a rubber perimeter adapted to frictionallycontact the side surface of bicycle wheel 10 without slippage. Asuitable mounting bracket may be employed to mount the generator insecure engagement with wheel 10. Generator 12 is designed to provide astorable direct current or other electrical signal output. In someembodiments, a transmission mechanism may be employed to couple thegenerator to the intensity level setting of the exercise apparatus,whereby the storable electrical output produced by the generator will beproportionate to the exertion level or work performed on the exerciseapparatus. In the several embodiments of this invention, the generatorwill be programmed to produce a response signal only when theexerciser's exertion heart rate is between about 40% and 80% of maximumcapacity, as determined by standardized charts that accompany mostcurrent exercise equipment, said maximum heart rate being age-dependent.By virtue of such heart rate criteria, the exerciser will receive noexercise credit, in the form of a response signal from the generator,when he is at rest, and there is no incentive to exercise at anunhealthy heart rate for the purpose of generating greater credit forexercising.

Storage battery 13, when employed as the accumulator means, is of therechargeable type, and may, for example employ nickel hydride, lithium,silver or nickel/cadmium chemical components. The battery is furthercharacterized in being able to accept a charge at varied voltages, andis compatible with the voltage range of the output from the generator.The accumulator means may alternatively be a tape or disc or computerchip device interactive with a generator component that outputs aresponse signal in the form of a digitized stream of information. Theresponse signal, which may be indicative of the number or rate ofrotations or oscillations of a moving component of an exerciseapparatus, or heart beat rate, or accumulated calories burned isrecorded as stored computer-readable information in the accumulatormeans. The accumulator means, for example battery 13, is connected tosaid generator means by a lock-and-key configuration incorporated intoclamp 15, whereby the battery will not accept an input response signalfrom any unauthorized source.

The clamp 15 of the battery and the input connector 16 of control modulealso have a lock-and-key configuration whereby only the output frombattery 15 can activate control module 17. Any other battery, or sourceof D.C. voltage or computerized data would not communicate with saidcontrol module without proper lock-and-key connectivity.

Control module 17 may employ the principle of a solenoid-type on/offswitch or electronic control module wherein D.C. current from battery 13maintains a switch in a closed state, thereby connecting TV set 19 orother appliance to household electrical current such as 110 volt A.C.supplied from wall receptacle 18. When the stored control medium, suchas D.C. current from battery 13, becomes depleted, the solenoid-typeswitch or control module will open, thereby disconnecting current fromsaid wall receptacle.

Control module 17 is secured to TV set 19 in a manner preventing bypassby an unauthorized electrical conductor communicating directly to the TVset from another source of household electrical current.

By virtue of the aforesaid components and their manner of interaction,the exercising person can accumulate or “bank” credit for exerciseactivity, and such “credit” can be spent at any time and on anyelectrical appliance compatible with this system, regardless of locationwithin the house or within another, similarly equipped house.

While particular examples of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention in its broadest aspects.The aim of the appended claims, therefore, is to cover all such changesand modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. An exercise motivating system interactive with an appliance whichoperates on household electrical current, said system comprising: A.generator means responsive to an exercise activity to generate a signalproportionate to the amount of exertion applied by an exerciser in saidactivity, said signal being a stream of digital information, B.accumulator means removably associated with said generator means forreceiving said generated signal and converting it to a stored controlmedium as instructional information, said removable associationincluding a lock and key configuration which thwarts unauthorized inputto said accumulator means, and C. a control module interposed between asource of household electrical current and an appliance operable on saidcurrent and adapted to physically couple with said accumulator means,said control module adapted to receive and process instructionalinformation in a manner to operate said appliance for a time durationproportionate to said amount of exercise exertion.
 2. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said exercise activity involves use of an apparatushaving a component that undergoes rotary motion.
 3. The system of claim1 wherein the manner of physical coupling of said accumulator means withsaid control module includes a lock-and-key configuration.
 4. The systemof claim 1 wherein said control module is secured to said appliance in amanner preventing bypass by an unauthorized electrical conductorcommunicating directly to said appliance from said household electricalcurrent.
 5. An exercise motivating system interactive with an appliancewhich operates on household electrical current, said system comprising:A. generator means responsive to an exercise activity to generate asignal proportionate to the amount of exertion applied by an exerciserin said activity, said signal being a stream of digital informationproduced only when the exerciser's heart rate is between 40% and 80% ofmaximum capacity, B. accumulator means removably associated with saidgenerator means f or receiving said generated signal and converting itto a stored control medium, as instructional information, said removableassociation including a lock and key configuration which thwartsunauthorized input to said accumulator means, and C. a control moduleinterposed between a source of household electrical current and anappliance operable on said current and adapted to physically couple withsaid accumulator means, said control module adapted to receive andprocess instructional information in a manner to operate said appliancefor a time duration proportionate to said amount of exercise exertion.